Jan 14, 2019; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) makes a save during the first period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center.(Photo11: Ed Mulholland, Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

MONTREAL -- Bonjour from snowy Montreal, where the Devils are a little banged up, to say the least. Travis Zajac, Ben Lovejoy, Stefan Noesen and, of course, Joey Anderson and Taylor Hall did not make the trip with the team.

However, Chico Resch made the trip and has already consumed two of the infamous Bell Centre hot dogs for breakfast. The first of many, he assures. His record is 10.

But Resch won’t be starting in net against the Canadiens on Saturday. That honor will go to Mackenzie Blackwood for the first time. Coach John Hynes wants him to experience the atmosphere of one of the most storied buildings and atmospheres in hockey.

“You come here and it’s a hockey hotbed. The whole city is a hockey city,” Hynes said Saturday morning. “The building is beautiful. It’s different than buildings in the U.S. because a lot of them go out but this one goes up and the fans are right on top of you. The pregame ceremonies are fantastic. It’s a special place to come and play.”

The lines will be shuffled without Zajac, arguably the Devils’ best centerman. Blake Coleman will move back to center and Kurtis Gabriel will draw into the lineup. Gabriel, an enforcer, is someone Hynes has been high on since training camp, despite the fact that the Devils aren’t necessarily a team who uses a lot of scrappers like Gabriel.

But Hynes sees value in some of his other skills and thinks this team could use a little more of a physical presence. He wants to see Gabriel play with an edge but not go over that edge.

“He’s a big strong player who does a good job of puck protection down in the offensive zone,” Hynes said. “His board play is important, particularly against a team like Montreal. They’re a hard forechecking team and the pinch a lot. And he brings an element to your team. He’s a big strong kid.”

New Jersey will not have to face goalie Carey Price today. Price will sit a game as a result of skipping the All-Star Game in San Jose last weekend.

Here are the projected lineups for the Devils and Habs.

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All the news about the New Jersey Devils, from training camp to the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs.